Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/35

 COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES a rare thing for a maiden to reach the age o f fifteen wimout being appropriated by some buck. Courtship and marriage were not attended with much ceremony or delay. When a buck cast Ins eye on a maiden he went to the father and offered a price fo r her, usually in ponies. T he main ceremony consisted in the settlement o f her value between the contracting parties, the aftcr-ccrcmonies of the medicine man being brief and simple. Yet these unions were seldom broken except by death. In moving from place to place the squaws, as usual, had all the work to do. T he w ig­ wams and household goods were made into large bundles and packed on the backs of the ponies, or on “ sweeps” made o f poles lashed to each side of the animal and connected be­ hind with crosspieces. T h e squaws also car­ ried some of the burdens, while (he bucks stalked ahead smoking their pipes. When a halt was made fo r meals the jx>nies were not unloaded, except at night, ^ m etim e s there were spare ponies enough to permit the squaws to ride, but only after the bucks had been pro­ vided with a mount. Riding or walking, the squaws carried the papooses on their backs. A ll rode astride, with but a blanket beneath, and no bridle w as used, the animals being guided by slaps on the side of the head or by words. On arrival at a suitable location it w as the duty of the squaws to unload, erect the wigwam.s, cut the firewood and perform all the heavy work without assistance. When their work was over they retired to the depths of their skin robes, simply removing their c othing, with the exception of the skirt, while the w ar­ riors retained only the brccchckuit. COSTL'UES

Indian dress in the earlier times w as e x ­ clusively made o f skins. G reat taste was shown m the manuf.icture of these costumes, which were trimmed with fur, and ornaments made o f fish scales, shells, beads, colored grasses and feathers. T he designs were bc.autiful and artistic, and the material thoroughly finished. Indian tanned skins have always, even to the present day, commanded high prices. A fte r the coming of the whites cloth began to be use<l by the squaws in the manufacture o f clothing: the brighter the colors the more popular the pattern— red being a favorite. T he squaws dre.ssed in the gayest costumes (heir tastes could devise: beautifully worked and

beaded moccasins, soft deerskin leggings, rich­ ly decorated and fringed with the brightest colored beads, ornaments and pendants; and their plump busts and arm s were almost covered with the many strings o f ornaments, shells, beads and stone pendants. In winter an extra skirt was worn, and fu rs wrapped around themeck and head. W arriors, old and young, were most particu­ lar as to their appearance. T heir hair w as pulled out by the roots after the age o f pu­ berty had been reached, and but a “ scalplock” was allowed to grow. T o (his w as fastened a plume o f feathers or horsehair. Nose and ears were pierced for rin gs; the bodies were left bare to the waist, with many liandsomc belts o f wampum thrown across the shoulder. T he face and ho<)y were profusely painted with colors made from clays and simple woodland flowers, and a belt around the waist bore the knife, warbag o f charms, and other tools of the chase or w arfare, and served to hold the leggings up. Through this belt w as passed the ends of the brccchclout, made o f linen or Other cloth, in early times o f skin. It was eight or nine inches wide and nearly a yard long, and the manner o f wrapping it around the l)o<ly denoted the clan or tribe to which the wearer belonged. Moccasins o f many kinds were worn, and in all cases the ankles were covered to protect the feet from snakebites and thorns. On long expeditions a fringed skirt w as worn to protect the body from bushes and briars, the Ic ^ in g s being then exceptionally heavy. T he differ­ ence between the hunters and the warriors on (he warpath consisted in the lack o f paint on the faces of the former and the lack o f cloth­ ing of the latter. On marauding expeditions the w arrior greased himself alt over to m.akc the hold o f his adversary insecure. There w as general pride in the skill of the hunter* and the .achievements of the warriors. The taking of the first scalp by a young w ar­ rior was an occasion o f special excitement and rejoicing. T he return o f a p r t y from the warpeith or a hunting expedition w as alw ays attended with a public reception in the village: but after the expedition ended the lazy life of the heroes began, and when winter set in they had nothing to do but lie around until the spring should come, smoke their pipes and relate their deeds o f prowess. On bright days they sometimes got up a little excitement over a game o f football or a footrace; occasionally there w as a dance or a feast, but as a rule the winters were passed in idleness. Smoking w as their chief com fort under all conditions.